The Inside Race

“The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself – the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us – that’s where it’s at.”
(Jesse Owens)

In honor of Black History Month, this week we’re looking at some great quotes from African-American leaders.

This first one comes from a true American hero–a man who proved to the world that Hitler’s ideas about race were truly empty.

I love Owen’s quote above because it’s so easy for those of us who haven’t won gold medals to think athletic battles with others are the most challenging.

No, the inner battles we all face daily are the most difficult, and the most important:

–can I really do this?
–do I have what it takes?
–if my husband doesn’t respect me, why should I respect me?
–if I had a horrible childhood, can I give my kids a beautiful one?
–is this life, or this job, or this marriage, something I really want?

Outer races may make us look different from one another, but these inner “races” unite us all.